ABU DHABI — Jamie Donaldson achieved the biggest victory of his career after edging out fellow Briton Justin Rose and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen on a thrilling final day at the $2.7 million Abu Dhabi Championship Sunday. Donaldson squeezed five birdies in a closing four-under-par 68 to finish 14-under on 274, one ahead of overnight leader Rose (71) and Olesen (69). The Welshman almost let in his title rivals when he bogeyed the last hole after missing from five feet. But neither Rose nor Olesen, playing in the match behind, could birdie the 18th and the spectacular Falcon Trophy belonged to Donaldson. “I got away with murder at the last hole there but I'm very happy to be holding the trophy,” he told Sky Sports after clinching his second European Tour victory. “This feels pretty surreal, really. I played really good all week and particularly well today.” Donaldson, who also won the Irish Open last year, birdied the first, ninth, 11th, 14th and 15th before dropping his only shot at the 18th. Rose picked up four birdies in the final round but was let down by bogeys at the fifth, 11th and 16th. He tossed his putter high in the air in anguish after seeing a 12-foot birdie putt lip out at the last. Playing partner Olesen also had to settle for a par at the closing hole after missing from 14 feet. Portugal's Ricardo Santos finished fourth on 277. Stallings five ahead In California, Scott Stallings capitalized on a pair of eagles to surge five strokes clear of the field with a sizzling display of “conservatively aggressive” golf in the third round of the Humana Challenge Saturday. One shot off the pace overnight, the 27-year-old American fired a nine-under-par 63 on the Nicklaus Private course at PGA West, one of three venues hosting the tournament renowned for its low scoring in the California desert. Bidding for a third victory on the PGA Tour, Stallings eagled the par-five 13th and eighth after starting out at the 10th to take command with a 22-under total of 194 in the pro-am celebrity event. Former British Open champion Stewart Cink carded a 66 on the Palmer layout to share second place with fellow American Roberto Castro (69), co-leader overnight with rookie James Hahn. Also at 17 under with Cink and Castro after another ideal day for scoring with hardly a breath of wind in the sun-drenched Coachella Valley were Americans Charles Howell III (67), John Rollins (64) and Charley Hoffman (67). Little-known American Brian Stuard was a further stroke back after shooting the best round of the week, a 62 on the Palmer course, putting him among a group of eight including compatriot Kevin Streelman (66) and South Korean Bae Sang-moon (64). Twice former champion Phil Mickelson flirted with the cut for much of the day but eventually made sure he would qualify for Sunday's final round after completing a six-birdie 66 to finish at 11-under 205. — Agencies
